What's Pressoir Drinking?

June 2, 2021
by Justine Puaud

Birthday Wines

Last Saturday, I went to my friend’s place in the West Village. Victor is one of the best cooks I know in New York (please don’t tell my husband). He always says he will cook something casual but every time it ends with a delicious fancy (or not) menu. Victor is from Les Corbières which is a mountain region in the Languedoc-Roussilon. The cuisine of Languedoc-Roussilon is famous for its traditional Cassoulet but being at the border with Spain, it is also a cuisine full of colors, spices and character. Victor decided to make the traditional Arroz de Marisco, a signature Spanish seafood and rice dish.
Check out this recipe.

We realized that we both were turning 30 and wanted to open wines that we love. We started with a Mont Benoit 2015 from Frédéric Savart and followed with a Condrieu Cuvée Les Chaillées de l’Enfer 2016 from Georges Vernay. Drinking those 2 wines made me feel nostalgic but also happy. It reminds me of the bustle of my favorite festivals - La Fête du Champagne and La Tablée. It’s been too long since we celebrated those two great events and I can’t wait for fall to arrive for the 2021 editions. La Fête is the weekend of October 16 and La Tablée is the weekend of November 13. Mark your calendars!

Mont Benoit 2015 Frédéric Savart
I met Fred in 2017 at my first La Fête du Champagne which was in London. I tasted his Mont des Chrétiens and remember telling myself “I’m drinking a beautiful and rich Meursault but from Champagne”. Overall I think Savart’s champagnes are opulent and richly textured. This time we opened the Mont Benoit. This impressive wine is made of 95% Pinot Noir. The wine is fermented and aged in wood, followed by 36 months of lees-aging in bottle. There are notes of brioche and white flowers with crisp apple, which give elegance to the wine.

Condrieu Cuvée Les Chaillées de l’Enfer 2016 Georges Vernay
I noticed that many Americans don’t like Viognier. I don’t know if it is because it’s too rich or too exotic. Personally I love the Viogniers from the Rhône Valley. Mannie Berk from Rare Wine & Co said one day ”If there were ever a Marius Gentaz in Condrieu, it was Georges Vernay.” Well, that sets the tone. Christine Vernay makes remarkably well balanced wines. She presses whole clusters for aromatic complexity, settles the juice and then ferments and ages her Condrieus in barrels, 25% new. The wine ages for 12 to 18 months.